Skate



J. M. KELLER May 7, 1935.

SKATE Filed March 25, 1952 IN VENTOR.

Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES ATE T.. OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention, relating as indicated to skates, has more particular reference to skates of the wheeled type commonly referred to as .rolle skates.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, the action of roller skates of the type now in common use is very much different from the ideal action of an ice skate, which the roller skate attempts to simulate. It is among the objects of my invention to provide a form 'of roller skate construction which shall have an action in use more closely resembling the action of an ice skate than any form of roller skate construction heretofore employed.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a construction which shall be sufficiently flexible to, within certain limits, resiliently support the weight of the wearer in such a manner that he may shift his weight on the platform of the skate without materially altering the weight carried by the several supporting wheels of the skate.

It is also among the objects of my invention to provide a construction capable of employing supporting wheels of relatively large diameter as compared to those previously employed to thereby reduce the rolling friction of the skate. Other objects of my invention will appear as th description proceeds. I 7

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus comprising my invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the axle supporting the offset wheels on the forward end of the skate; Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 1, taken on a plane substantially indicated by the lines 44; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the anchor box in which is positioned the resilient blocks by means of which the axle passing through such box is resiliently supported.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, the skate comprising my invention consists of a platform generally indicated at I, which con sists of a forward portion Zand a rear portion 3. The forward and rear portions of the platform are adjustably joined by the usual type of connection found in skate constructions so that the 5 platform may be adjusted to accommodate varying sizes of shoes. t l The rear platform; is provided with an upwardly directed flange E'adapted to engage the heel of the shoe andsuchflange is provided with slots 6 adapted to'receive' securing strap s, not shown, arranged to pass over the instep of the wearer and thereby secure the body ofthe skate to the shoe. 7 l a Secured to the rear end of the platform are laterally spacedbracket members 1 and 8 which terminally receive a bolt 9 which serves as an axle upon which is rotatably mounted by means of friction reducing bearings a rear supporting wheel i0. preferably be positionedin substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the skate. Wheels II and I2 provided to support the forward end of the skate platform are rotatably supported preferably by means of friction reducing 2 5 bearings on an axle l3, the form 'of which is most clearly illustrated in Figure 3. "The axle i3 has a central substantially rectangular portion l4 upon which the platform is mounted and secured by the means presently tobe described;

The rectangular section of theaxle l3is secured'to the platform 2 at axially spaced points by bracket members generally indicated at-li' in Figure 1. The means generally indicated at E5 for interconnecting the axle l3 and platform 2, as most clearly illustrated in Figure 2, comprise complementary blocks i6 and I1 preferably formed of resilient material such as rubber and on their adjacent faces provided with cut-out portions so as to admit rectangular portion [4 40 of the axle. The rubber blocks l6 and I! and the axle engaged thereby are secured to the end face of the platform 2 by a substantially rectangular bracket member I9 which, along its 7 upper edge, is provided with projecting ears which may be inserted through apertures provided therefor in the platform 2 and peened over in order to effect the proper connection between such bracket member and the platform. Any suitable means such as Welding for securing the bracket to the platform might be employed instead of the lugs without departing from the principles comprising my invention. The bracket member l9 should, however, be so proportioned with respect to the size of the rubber blocks I 6 The rear supporting wheel I!) will the skate enables theskate to take up any inand I! that the complementary faces of such blocks meeting on the line generally indicated at l8 will be brought together uniformly throughout and the rubber compressed sufiiciently so as to firmly engage the axle.

The toe portion of the platform 2 is provided with the usual adjustable clips 2| adapted to removably engage the shoe of the wearer and thereby rigidly secure the skate to the shoe.

The under-slung formation of the axle l3 makes possible the employment of wheels of suiiicient diameter so that the wearingfriction of the skate is reduced to a minimum. It should be noted at this point that the supporting wheels of the skate illustrated in the .drawing are of a diameter and arranged so that their axes lie above the plane of the platform. This arrangement and relationship between the parts notonly makes possible the employment of wheels of larger diamlater but adds to the stability of the skateandthe safety by which the same may be employed.

It is also to be noted that the insi'de wheel H i. e., that wheel on the forward end of the skate lying on the inside of the wearer's foot is off-set rearwardly of the outer wheel 12. This off-set construction of the leading wheels of the skate facilitates the skating operation and conforms to theaction of the foot in stroking, i. e.,'the natural inclination of the foot when making a skating stroke is substantially the amount of lateralofi-set between the axes of the two wheels so that the skate conforms to the natural stance of the user.

The provision of the flexible connection and support between the axle and the platform of equalities in the pressure exerted thereon by the wearer. By having reference to Fig. 1, if the wearer should place more of the load on the left side of the skate than on the right, the axle would be rotated justsufliciently to enable both, wheels II and I2 to carry substantially the same load. When the wearer again equalizes the weight on the skate or removes his weight therefrom, the resiliency of the rubber'support for the axle restores the same and the wheels carried thereby to the normal position. This resilientsupportfor the axle likewise reduces to a minimum the tiresome shock to whichthe wearers footis subjected as the wheels of the skate pass over inequalities in the floor surface. Other modes of applying the principleof my invention may be employed instead of the one explained," change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a skate, the combination with a foot platform, of supporting means therefor, including a ground-wheel in substantial alignment with the longitudinal median line thereof and a spindle therefor to the rear of said platform in fixed relation therewith, a pair of ground-wheels supporting the frontor toe portion of said platform, one on either side thereof, and one wheel of said pair being mounted rearwardly of the other, and spindles for said pair of wheels which spindles are positioned above the plane of said platform.

v 2. In a skate, the combination with a foot platform, of supporting means therefor, including a ground wheel mounted rearwardly of said platform in substantial alignment with the 1ongitudinal median line thereof, and a pair of groundwheels supporting the front or toe portion of said platform, a common axle with spindles for said pair of wheels which spindles are parallel and located one to the rear of the other, and means connecting said platform to said axle whereby the latter may have limited resiliently opposed turning movement relative to the former.

3. In a skate, the combination with a foot platform, of supporting means therefor including a ground wheel mounted rearwardly of said platform in substantial alignment with the longitudinal median line thereof, a pair of ground wheels supporting the front or toe portion of said platform, a common axle for said pair of wheels with spindles located above said platform in parallel relation with one to the rear of the other, and means connecting said platform to said axle whereby the latter may have limited resiliently opposed rotative movement relative to the former.

4. In askate, the combination with a foot platform, of supporting means therefor including an axle extending transversely of said platform, means connectingv said platform to said axle whereby the latter may have limited resiliently opposed turning movement relative to the former, said axle having wheel-supporting spindles at opposite ends, one of such spindles being further forward with respect to said platform than the other, and wheels on said spindles.

JOHN -M. KELLER. 

